Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Summer school students eat free, USDA provides grant to participants

Breakfasts and lunches for summer school students at the Gurdon High School and Cabe Middle School were free, the result of a grant.

Carolyn McDonald, administrator of the food service for GHS, said June 27, that this years food program started when summer school began.

"We are wrapping it up this week, as the second session of summer school is about to end," she said. "But really, we are authorized to feed anyone from 4 to 18 years old for free. As to who ate, there were about 45 in each of the two high school summer sessions and 15 from middle school during the two weeks they were going to school."

McDonald said the program is sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture and has been active for at least five years.

"We have kids in summer school from Gurdon, Bismark and Prescott. When middle school was in session, we had some from Horatio," McDonald said. "We have to meet the same food quality requirements that we do during the school year."

She said one to two cafeteria employees come in to prepare and serve the summer meals.

Summer school

Lynn Failla, administrator of the 21st Century Community Learning Center grant, said the two summer sessions are paid for through the grant. The first group was in class from June 5-16 and the second summer session group was scheduled to attend from June 19-30.

Middle school was in session during the first summer term but not the second.

Failla said, "The grant being involved as the paying source started out last year. It is open to area children from Prescott, Bismarck, Gurdon and the surrounding area."

Failla said the 2006 summer school grant cost was $4,500, plus $600 for books. There was also a transportation expense.

"Id say the whole thing came to right around $5,500," she said. "This is mostly teaching salaries, books and local bus transportation."

Failla said 43 students came to the first round of high school summer session, and there were 41 who attended the second part.

"Our high school students had to attend to keep up with classes. Middle school was not mandatory," she said.

Failla said the high school classes offered this summer were: English, grades 9-12, taught by Bonnie Beals; algebra 1 A and B, taught by DeAnne Russell; and geometry and algebra II, taught by Lois Jackson.